CAVE
Neverendless
(DRAG CITY)

CAVE are indeed riding a wave, but it is a bare and uncertain one that first-time listeners are advised to be attentive to. It’s a completely wordless trek where the consistent rhythm is what chugs you along, relying on its repetitive nature to draw you inside the cave where this echoing sound could only reside. In their first release as a four-piece band, they present Neverendless in a stream of cycles; small, rapid segments of riffs are compressed into fast-paced compositions that subtly alter shape throughout the songs. This roulette of sound begins with the kicking groove of “W U J” which pieces together a twangy pop riff with screeching guitar, eventually subsiding into the mellow intro of “This is the Best.” They make a comeback towards the original pace, but seem to have picked up more density along the way as it closes the album’s first cycle. “Adam Roberts” blasts into the cosmos before splitting off to the bouncy, controlled chaos of “On the Rise.” Another circle is drawn. At its close with “O J,” it finally becomes clear what an instrumental version of Deerhunter sounds like. But this time, you’re listening to it sober. — Lara Kinne